From SHG Strength to Global Markets: Women-Led Collective Reflects Grassroots Power and Subhadra Spirit
Bureau,Odishabarta
– A Self-Help Group (SHG) from Angul district – Maa Kalijai SHG has successfully exported 7.5 quintals of Amrapali mangoes to London, marking yet another milestone in Odisha’s inclusive agricultural growth journey
Bhubaneswar, Odisha | 6thJune 2026 – In a significant stride towards women empowerment and grassroots progress, A Self-Help Group (SHG) from Angul district – Maa Kalijai SHG has successfully exported 7.5 quintals of Amrapali mangoes to London, marking yet another milestone in Odisha’s inclusive agricultural growth journey. This achievement not only strengthens the state’s export narrative but also reflects the growing confidence, capability, and economic participation of rural women in global markets.
The success of Maa Kalijai SHG has been enabled through the support of the Directorate of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE) under the PSFPO project.
The marketing facilitation for this export has been comprehensively supported by Palladium Consulting, which is also the implementation partner for the PSFPO project. Mission Shakti and Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) have been instrumental in the overall strengthening of the SHG, contributing to its sustained development and enhanced capabilities, enabling SHGs today to reach new heights and connect their products to global markets.
As the implementation partner, Palladium supports the export ecosystem through awareness and sensitization workshops, field-level demonstrations, and exporter meets. It also facilitates procurement, coordination with farmers and FPOs, and provides continuous handholding support, playing a key role in strengthening producer institutions and driving agri-exports from Odisha.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are small, community-based collectives, often comprising rural women, with limited scale compared to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Exports and large-scale agri-marketing have traditionally been led by FPOs due to their stronger capacity and market linkages, while SHGs have had limited exposure to export ecosystems.
This milestone by Maa Kalijai SHG, however, marks a notable shift.
This year till now, Odisha has already achieved 90 metric tonnes (MT) of mango exports, supported by the Directorate of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), through the PSFPO project implemented by Palladium Consulting. Adding a new feather to this achievement is the SHG-led export—an extraordinary example of last-mile empowerment translating into global market participation.
What makes this achievement particularly significant is that it reflects the growing strength, confidence, and market readiness of SHGs, traditionally seen as limited in operational scale.
The ability of Maa Kalijai SHG to meet quality standards, participate in aggregation, and successfully connect to an international market like London demonstrates a clear progression from subsistence-level activity to enterprise-led engagement. It signals a shift in perception—where SHGs are no longer viewed merely as micro-level support systems but as emerging stakeholders capable of contributing to export ecosystems. This milestone showcases how empowerment at the grassroots level can translate into tangible economic outcomes, reinforcing the idea that even the smallest collectives can play a meaningful role in global trade The global trade has helped in
Voices from the Ground
Smt. Rupali Pradhan, a member of Maa Kalijai SHG shared:
“We started as a small group supporting our families, never imagining our produce would reach international markets. Seeing our mangoes travel so far fills us with pride and emotion—it feels like a dream we never thought we could live. This export is not just a milestone, it is a symbol of our confidence, our unity, and our belief that even small groups can achieve big dreams.”
Soumya Ranjan Sahoo, Agribusiness Expert, Palladium, added:
“The Maa Kalijai SHG export is a powerful demonstration of how targeted interventions, institutional convergence, and capacity building can unlock the potential of even the smallest producer groups. This milestone sets a new benchmark for inclusive agri-exports in Odisha.”
